Basic HTML Version
222
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
The fact that men have been possessed with demons is clearly
stated in the New Testament. The persons thus afflicted were not
merely suffering with disease from natural causes. Christ had perfect
understanding of that with which he was dealing, and he recognized
the direct presence and agency of evil spirits.
A striking example of their number, power, and malignity, and
also of the power and mercy of Christ, is given in the Scripture
account of the healing of the demoniacs at Gadara. Those wretched
maniacs, spurning all restraint, writhing, foaming, raging, were
filling the air with their cries, doing violence to themselves, and
endangering all who should approach them. Their bleeding and
disfigured bodies and distracted minds presented a spectacle well-
pleasing to the prince of darkness. One of the demons controlling
[333]
the sufferers declared, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” [
Mark
5:9
.] In the Roman army a legion consisted of from three to five
thousand men. Satan’s hosts also are marshaled into companies, and
the single company to which these demons belonged numbered no
less than a legion.
At the command of Jesus, the evil spirits departed from their
victims, leaving them calmly sitting at the Saviour’s feet, subdued,
intelligent, and gentle. But the demons were permitted to sweep a
herd of swine into the sea; and to the dwellers of Gadara their loss
outweighed the blessings which Christ had bestowed, and the divine
Healer was entreated to depart. This was the result which Satan
designed to secure. By casting the blame upon Jesus, he aroused the
selfish fears of the people, and prevented them from listening to his
words. Satan is constantly accusing Christians as the cause of loss,
misfortune, and suffering, instead of allowing the reproach to fall
where it belongs, upon himself and his agents.
But the purposes of Christ were not thwarted. He allowed the
evil spirits to destroy the herd of swine as a rebuke to those Jews,
who, by raising these unclean beasts for the sake of gain, had trans-
gressed the command of God. Had not Christ restrained the demons,
they would have plunged into the sea, not only the swine, but also
their keepers and owners. The preservation of both the keepers and
the owners was due alone to his merciful interposition for their de-
liverance. Furthermore, this scene was permitted to take place that
the disciples might witness the cruel power of Satan upon both man
[334]